In 2018, there were two large talc-related lawsuits ending in settlements. One talcum powder lawsuit awarded $117 million for victims who developed mesothelioma related to talc, and another awarded $4.6 billion for women who developed ovarian cancer related to talc products. Both lawsuits specified harm related to the asbestos in the talc. Most previous lawsuits had not made the cause and effect connection of the asbestos contaminants in the talc to the development of ovarian cancer.

Most talcum powder lawsuits have been filed against Johnson & Johnson alleging their baby powder products have caused mesothelioma or ovarian cancer, but suits have also been filed against Imerys Talc of America (a talc supplier), Colgate-Palmolive, and Vanderbilt Minerals. There has been clear evidence since the 1970s that asbestos causes mesothelioma, and talc-mesothelioma settlements have not been overturned. As of July, 2019, there have been 12,836 cases filed with most still pending. A class action lawsuit was filed in Missouri against Johnson & Johnson in June, 2018. There was also a ruling in New Jersey in 2015 to consolidate the talc-ovarian cancer cases in a multi-county litigation case.

Mesothelioma Related Talcum Powder Lawsuit Settlements

  • September 2019- $37.3 million awarded in a multi plaintiff case in New Jersey
  • July 2018- Paul Garcia Settlement in California
  • April 2018- Stephen Lanzo III was awarded $117 million by a New Jersey jury.
  • March 2018- Robert Lord was awarded $11.5 million in Florida.
  • December 2017- Richard Booker was awarded $22 million by a California jury.
  • October 2016- Philip Depoian was awarded $18 million by a California jury.
  • May 2015- Judith Winkel was awarded $13 million.

Ovarian Cancer Related Talcum Powder Lawsuit Settlements

  • July 2018- A jury awarded 22 plaintiffs $4.69 billion. In December 2018, J&J lost its motion to have the verdict overturned.
  • August 2017-Eva Echeverria was awarded $417 million by a California jury, but the verdict was overturned later that year.
  • May 2017- Lois Slemp was awarded $110 million by a St. Louis jury, but the verdict was overturned by a judge in 2019.
  • October 2016- Deborah Giannecchini was awarded $72.5 million.
  • May 2016- Gloria Ristesund was awarded $55 million by a Missouri jury.
  • February 2016- The family of Jacqueline Fox was awarded $72 million by a St. Louis jury, but the verdict was overturned by a judged in 2017.

References:

  1. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-johnson-johnson-cancer-special-report/special-report-jj-knew-for-decades-that-asbestos-lurked-in-its-baby-powder-idUSKBN1OD1RQ
  2. https://www.seattletimes.com/business/apxcorrection-talc-powder-cancer-lawsuit-story/
  3. https://www.cnn.com/2018/04/06/health/talc-mesothelioma-asbestos-damages/index.html
  4. https://www.app.com/story/news/health/2019/09/11/johnson-johnson-hit-37-3-m-verdict-nj-talcum-powder-case/2290548001/
  5. https://blog.cvn.com/vanderbilt-settles-potentially-11.5m-talc-mesothelioma-lawsuit-during-jury-deliberations
  6. https://www.usnews.com/news/news/articles/2018-07-09/settlement-in-colgate-palmolive-baby-powder-lawsuit
  7. https://stlrecord.com/stories/511454641-class-action-filed-against-johnson-johnson-over-talc-cancer-claims
  8. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/19/business/johnson-johnson-baby-powder-verdict.html
  9. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-johnson-johnson-talc-verdict-idUSKCN0XT20L
  10. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-johnson-johnson-cancer-lawsuit-idUSKBN18100F
  11. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-johnson-johnson-appeal/missouri-appeals-court-overturns-110-million-johnson-johnson-talc-verdict-idUSKBN1WU2NT
  12. https://www.jpml.uscourts.gov/sites/jpml/files/Pending_MDL_Dockets_By_Actions_Pending-July-16-2019.pdf
  13. https://www.njcourts.gov/notices/2015/n151202a.pdf